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Official  Souvenir 

CLEVELAND 
PUBLIC  AUDITORIUM 


CLEVELAND  •  OHIO 
MCMXXII 


v't--^».v<*->*.*'::<.*,.;S/,.'^ 


Cleveland  Public  Auditorium 
— as  it  will  appear  from  the 
Mall  when  proposed  addi- 
tions have  been  made  to  main 
building. 


-"W^ 


»IL      Jm 


tXitt  mEMIEK  PftUl 


A   MONUMENT   CONCEIVED   AS   A   TRIBUTE   TO   THE  IDEALS 
OF   CLEVELAND,   BUILDED    BY   HER  CITIZENS  AND 
DEDICATED     TO     SOCIAL    PROGRESS,     IN- 
DUSTRIAL ACHIEVEMENTS 
AND  CIVIC  INTEREST 


Fred  Kohler 
Mayor 


HERE  is  a  just  pride  in  turn- 
ing over  to  the  people  of 
Cleveland  and  to  their  guests 
and  visitors,  this  Public  Audi- 
torium, the  finest  structure  of  its  kind  in 
the  land.  Built  by  the  people  of  this 
City,  it  should  prove  a  permanent  in- 
spiration and  benefit  to  them  and  to  those 
who  are  to  follow. 


Mayor. 


151 


JFMALINE         JANES  WKOLCOMB  J  J  SHEA  BALPH ! 

DIRECTOE  'f  PUBLIC  SERVICE     sTwccMMissiorep    secketaey  tohatoe  DlGECTOe=f  PUBLIC  WELFARE 


Mayor  Kohler  and  his 
official  family. 


161 


RECTED  by  the  people  of  Cleveland  for 
their  education  and  entertainment,  the 
Auditorium  is  dedicated  to  tlie  service  of 
the  community. 

The  bond  issue  that  meant  its  erection  was  carried 
by  the  largest  majority  in  the  history  of  the  munici- 
pality in  a  campaign  characterized  by  Cleveland's 
unequalled  spirit  of  co-operation  and  public  progress. 

The  great  central  section  of  the  building,  completed 
under  the  auspices  of  the  present  administration, 
indicates  that  the  edifice  will  surpass  in  magnitude, 
efficiency  and  attractiveness,  any  structure  of  its  class 
in  this  or  foreign  countries.  The  public  hall  will  provide 
our  people  with  a  great  variety  of  entertainment, 
expositions,  musical  attractions  and  educational  fea- 
tures; will  give  Cleveland  a  vast  amount  of  advertising 
of  a  practical  and  profitable  kind  throughout  the 
world;  will  promote  the  city's  commercial  welfare  by 
drawing  to  Cleveland  many  thousands  of  visitors  who 
will  patronize  our  business  interests;  in  short,  will 
mean   a   happier,   bigger   and   more  progressive    city. 

^Vith  the  spirit  of  one  for  all  and  all  for  Cleveland, 
let  us,  through  our  enthusiasm  and  patronage,  contri- 
bute to  the  success  of  the  Auditorium  and  thus  advance 
the  interests  of  the  city  we  are  proud  to  call  home. 


Cf^<^ 


Chairman, 
Committee  of  One  Hundred    Organizations. 


[7J 


#*»i^: 


The  Main  Foyer 


18) 


^'-r'" 


IJDavid  LitliL'ow 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium 

pIE  need  of  an  adequate  public  auditorium  was  first  realized 
in  1874  when  Cleveland,  after  securing  the  national  Saengerfest, 
had  no  building  large  enough  to  house  the  gathering  and  was 
forced  to  erect  a  temporary  structure. 

The  civic  minded  citizens  of  the  day  bespoke  the  need  anfl  advantages 
of  a  great  public  hall,  but  with  the  great  gathering  over,  interest  died 
away,  business  called  and  the  idea  dropped. 

The  project  was  not  revived  again  until  twenty  years  later  when 
Cleveland  again  secured  the  national  Saengerfest.  Again  it  was  found 
necessary  to  build  a  temporary  Auditorium,  and  again  a  public  agitation 
for  a  permanent  hall  was  launched  but  was  soon  allowed  to  subside. 

Not  until  1909,  when  Cleveland  held  a  great  industrial  exposition,  was 
the  need  of  an  Auditorium  brought  forcibly  to  the  public's  attention.  For 
the  exposition  the  city  was  again  forced  to  erect  a  great  temporary  struc- 
ture on  what  is  now  the  site  of  the  city  hall.  When  the  exposition  closed 
and  it  was  necessary  to  tear  down  the  $60,000  building  that  had  housed 
it  a  new  agitation  for  a  permanent  edifice  arose.  As  a  result  an  Auditorium 
Committee  was  appointed  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  for  several 
years  this  committee  kept  the  proposed  project  before  the  public. 

This  led  in  1916  to  a  meeting  in  the  office  of  Mayor  Harry  L.  Davis, 
at  which  representatives  of  civic  organizations  agreed  to  combine  in 
an  effort  to  carry  a  bond  issue  for  the  purpose  of  financing  a  public  hall. 

A  committee  was  formed  to  direct  the  project.  It  was  composed  of 
the  following  representative  citizens:  William  Ganson  Rose,  Chairman; 
Stanley  L.  McMichael,  Secretary;  Hon.  INIyron  T.  Herrick,  Treasurer;  E. 
H.  Baker,  Scott  Cannell,  F.  H.  Caley,  Judge  John  H.  Clarke,  William  G. 
Davies,  Mayor  Harry  L.  Davis,  Samuel  Halle,  J.  W.  Hart,  Arch.  C. 
Klumph,  WiUiam  P.  Leach,  Bascom  Little,  William  G.  Mather,  Victor 
Morgan,  F.  F.  Prentiss,  L.  G.  Rawson,  John  J.  Wood. 

Under  the  guidance  of  this  committee  a  general  organization  was 
built,  which  numbered  116  associations  and  more  than  200,000  members. 
The  culmination  of  a  spirited  and  inspiring  campaign  came  with  the 
passage  of  the  bond  issue. 

Thus,  after  the  years  of  public  agitation,  years  of  planning  and  building, 
Cleveland  has  been  given  the  finest,  the  most  beautiful  public  Auditorium 
in  the  country.  As  is  fittingly  inscribed  upon  its  walls  it  is  a  "monument 
conceived  as  a  tribute  to  the  ideals  of  Cleveland,  builded  by  her  citizens 
and  dedicated  to  social  progress,  industrial  achievements  and  civic 
interest." 


Interior,  Main  Aiidiloriinn. 


1101 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Continued 

The  Auditorium,  which  cost  ai)proxiuialeiy  $0,500,000,  occupies  an 
entire  city  block.  The  huihling  forms  the  fourth  unit  in  CU'vchuid's 
famous  orouj)  p\;\n  for  j)uhhc  huildiui^s  u|)on  tlu>  MalL  The  Federal 
l}uii(hng.  county  court  house  and  cily  iiail  iuivc  been  occupied  for  some 
time.  Other  buihhugs  will  follow  and.  when  the  last  unit  of  the  f^roup 
has  been  comi)leted.  a  tract  of  104  acres  will  be  occuj)ied  exclusively  by 
j)ublic  buildings,  beautiful  lawns  and  spacious  walks  and  boulevards. 

Designed  in  the  Italian  Kenaissance  style,  the  building  is  of  modern 
tirej^roof  construction.  The  exterior  is  faced  w'ith  variated  Indiana  lime- 
stone from  the  quarries  at  Bedford.  Indiana,  and  sujiplied  and  set  by  the 
Ohio  Cut  Stone  Company  of  Cleveland.  The  ])ink  granite  base  course  is 
from  the  cjuarries  of  the  Maine  New  Hampshire  Oranite  Co.,  Redstone, 
N.  H.  The  entire  interior  marble  treatment  was  supplied  and  set  by  R. 
M.  Allen  Comi)any,  Cleveland,  and  the  material  selected  from  the  quar- 
ries of  the  Vermont  Marble  Co.,  Proctor,  \[.  Nearly  all  of  the  plaster, 
sand,  lime,  cement  and  brick  used  in  the  structure  were  supplied  by  the 
Cleveland  Builders  Supply  &  Brick  Co.,  and  also  the  Builders  Supply 
&  Fuel  Co.,  all  of  Cleveland.  The  metal  lath  and  furring  was  furnished 
by  the  Harris-Murray  Co.,  Cleveland.  This  .Vuditorium  is  rejjorted  to 
be  the  largest  plastered  structure  in  the  world.  The  j^lastering  of  the  entire 
edifice  was  done  under  the  supervision  of  the  Smallwood  Plastering  Co., 
Cleveland. 

The  main  entrance  to  the  auditorium  is  from  Lakeside  Avenue.  Other 
entrances  and  exits  are  from  the  ^Nlall  and  from  East  Sixth  Street.  The 
main  nuirbled  lobl)y  is  enriched  with  ornamental  bronze  grilles  and  railings 
supplied  by  the  ^Michaels  Art  Bronze  Co.,  and  the  rich  quarry  tile  floors 
of  the  non-slip  type  were  laid  by  the  ^'enetian  Art  Mosaic  Co.  One 
proceeds  through  this  lobby  to  the  entrance  of  the  Auditorium  proper,  or 
by  a  grand  marble  staircase,  ten  feet  wide,  down  to  the  great  FLxhibition 
Hall  below. 

Visitors  entering  the  Auditorium  projjer  are  awed  by  the  magnitude 
and  dignity  of  the  arena  which  stretches  before  them.  Here  is  a  hall  over 
300  feet  long  and  'ilo  feet  wide  and  over  80  feet  from  main  floor  to  glass 
ceiling.  The  span  is  made  of  steel  trusses,  this  and  the  other  steel  work 
of  the  building  furnished  and  erected  by  the  King  Bridge  Co.,  Cleveland. 
The  wooden  scaffolding  for  the  steel  work  l)eing  furnished  by  the  Cray 
Lumber  Co.,  Cleveland. 

Not  a  single  column  is  used  in  the  main  arena.  The  view  is,  therefore, 
unobstructed  and  any  one  of  the  1 '-2,000  people  who  can  be  seated  in  this 
great  room  can  see  the  other  11,099  visitoi's. 

The  Arena  of  the  Auditorium  is  practically  at  street  level.  The  seating 
arrangement  consists  of  removable  seats  for  the  Areiui  or  main  floor, 
and  permanent  upholstered  seats  in  amphitheater  arrangement  ui)on 
east,  west  and  north  upjjer  and  lower  balconies.  The  entrances  to  both 
upper  and  lower  balconies  are  on  the  third  floor,  from  spacious  corridors, 
encircling  entire  balcony. 

nil 


Interior,  Main  Auditurium, 
with  seats  removed  for  exposi- 
tion purposes. 


[121 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Continued 

The  regular  seating  equipment  of  the  Auditoriiun,  furnished  by  the 
American  Seating  Co.,  Chicago,  inchides  11,635  seats,  of  which  4478 
are  upon  the  Arena  floor,  '-^444  in  the  lower  balconies  and  371, S  in  the  upper 
balconies  and  1100  upon  the  stage.  With  supplementary  facilities  13,000 
people  can  be  easily  seated  in  the  Auditorium.  When  not  in  use  seats  and 
other  portable  material  are  hauled  to  storage  rooms  in  the  building  on 
industrial  power  trucks  furnished  by  the  Cowen  Truck  Co.,  Holyoke, 
Mass. 

A  feature  of  the  great  hall  is  the  stage  overlooking  the  Arena  floor. 
This  also  may  be  used  for  exhibits  or  meetings.  It  is  (50  by  104  feet  and 
has  an  opening  7'-2  feet  wide  and  surmounted  by  an  arch  i'i  feet  0  inches 
high.  The  opening  is  fitted  with  a  steel  and  asbestos  curtain,  the  largest 
curtain  ever  made,  weighing  over  40  tons  with  its  counterweights,  and  was 
furnished  by  the  Argus  Enterprises,  Inc.  This  curtain  is  operated  by 
hydraulic  power  from  special  equipment  installed  by  the  makers  of  the 
curtain. 

Four  permanent  stage  settings  of  great  beauty  were  painted  and 
installed  by  the  New  York  Studios,  while  from  the  stage  ceiling,  100  feet 
high,  is  suspended  the  most  wonderful  and  complete  counterweighted, 
steel  cable,  stage  rigging  system  ever  designed,  this  being  supplied  and 
installed  by  Peter  Clark  of  New  York  City. 

The  stage,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  country,  contains  facilities 
for  staging  from  the  smallest  act  to  the  largest  grand  opera  production. 
Dressing  and  wardrobe  I'ooms  are  provided  on  each  side  of  the  stage  proper, 
sufficient  in  number  to  accommodate  200  of  a  chorus  and  over  30  private 
rooms  for  stars,  all  equipped  with  individual  make  up  tables  and  lavatories, 
special  toilet  facilities  and  lounging  quarters.  A  large  rehearsal  room  is 
also  provided  at  one  side  of  the  stage.  Electric  elevators  furnished  by  the 
Warner  Elevator  Co.,  Cleveland,  provide  access  to  dressing  rooms  located 
on  six  floors.  li>  ^  colors  of  lights  with  their  combinations  are  provided 
for  effects,  and  all  scenery  is  hung  from  the  spacious  gridiron,  excess  boxes 
and  equipment  are  taken  to  a  large  store  room  under  stage  by  means  of  an 
electric  platform  elevator  which  rises  from  the  basement  to  stage  level. 

A  feature  of  the  Auditorium  proper  which  calls  forth  special  attention 
is  a  pipe  organ,  costing  $100,000,  having  10,010  pipes  and  150  direct 
speaking  stops,  which  was  installed  by  the  Skinner  Organ  Co.,  of  Boston. 
This  musical  instrument,  one  of  the  largest,  is  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the 
world,  and  is  operated  by  two  30  H.  P.  and  one  10  H.  P.  motors. 

A  distinctive  feature  of  the  organ  is  the  console,  which  contains  five 
manuals  and  is  mounted  on  an  electric  elevator  in  front  of  the  stage, 
which  will  permit  of  its  being  lowered  out  of  sight  when  occasion  requires. 
The  pipes  and  chambers  are  located  on  the  right  stage  wings  and  are 
invisible  from  the  arena.  The  echo  organ  is  at  the  extreme  north  end  of 
the  arena.  In  addition  to  the  organ  a  Mason  and  Hamlin  concert  grand 
piano  is  provided,  which  may  be  operated  from  the  organ  console  by  special 
attachment  or  independently. 

113] 


rroscenium  Arch  and  Stage. 


1141 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Continued 

The  acoustic  properties  of  the  Auchloriu.n  are  consi.lere.l  anu.MK  ex- 
pert as  ranking  amoHK  the  best  in  the  counl.y.  These  7>-l>'>---- 
obtained  as  the  result  of  the  design  and  treatnient  l.y  the  architect  t 
the  buihliu"-.  J.  H.  ]^IacDowell.  who  is  cons.dere.l  an  authority  on  acou- 
sti^.s  The  special  absorbent  acoustic  plaster  specihed  and  used  by  the 
architect  in  the  ceiling  and  wall  panels  of  the  Arena  is  the  P'-l^'^;  ;' 
The  Mechanically  Applied  Products  Co..  of  Cleveland  am  is  call  1 
"Macoustic"  plaster.  This  company  also  supplied  and  laid  the  mastic 
Hoor  in  all  of  the  Committee  Rooms  and  offices. 

Illumination   of   the   Auditorium   proper  is  obtained   by   the  indirect 
method.    ^Vho  among  those  gazing  at  the  great  sweep  of  the  ceiling  would 
ouess  that  it  conceals  intricate  equipment  for  lighting  purposes.^   Approxi- 
mately 1075  lamps  of  ^200  watts  each  of  white  light,  consuming  normally 
"oo  kilowatts  of  electricity,  and  located  behind  a  held  ot    glass  panel 
i'n  the  ceiling  eighty  feet  above  the  floor  of  the  Arena,  diffuse  a  flood  ot 
soft  li-ht  to  the  Auditorium  below;  there  are  also  amber,  red  and  blue 
lights  of  equal  capacity  behind  this  glass  screen,  al    on  dimmer  c-on  ro  . 
-Vdditional  illumination  is  supplied  by  a    urther  sys  em  of  injhrect  light- 
ing upon  the  side  walls  just  below  the  ceiling  and  behind    he  balus  rades. 
>1  t^  spaced  approximately   U  feet  apart   under  the  lower  balconies 
lluminate  the  Arena  below.    The  metal  ceding  light  frames,  as  well  as 
the  steel  windows  throughout  the  building,  were  furnished  by  the  Intei- 
national  Casement  Company,  while  the  light  and  P«^^'^;;  ^"""ffl"'!.^;^"- 
duits  were  supplied  and  installed  by  the  ISlartien  Electric  Co.,  of  Cleveland. 
A  special  feature  of  the  Auditorium  illumination  is  the  ability  to  dim 
<.radually  from  full  intensity  to  darkness  on  all  coloi-s  and  to  hold  the  hghts 
dimmed  from  one  to  two  hours.    The  main  switch  board  is  located  in  the 
basement  and  all  lighting  is  under  what  is  known  as     »^f  "^^ic  controL 
These  switches  and  dimmers  are  all  operated  from  the  stage  tiom  a  low 
voltage  control  board  and  are  all  instantaneous  and  autouiatic    and  is 
termed  a  "Remote  control  system,"  supplied  by  the  Hub  Electric  Co., 
of  Chicago.    The  magnetic  dimmers  and  operating  plates  wei-e  manutac- 
ired  by  the  Ward  Leonard  Electric  Co.,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y.   The  large 
reflectors  above  the  glass  ceiling  which  direct  the  I'f  % do^^mw^^^^^^^^^ 
suDDlied  bv  the  I.  P.  Frink  Co.,  and  the  reflectors  back  of  the  balustiade, 
1  e^-oot  hgl^  s  on  the  stage  are  the  product  of  the  X-Ray  Lighting  Com- 
pany of  Chicago;  a  feature  of  the  colored  eflFects  is  obtained  by  directing 
whife   light   through   stained   glass   known  as  "Pyrex   Heat  Resisting. 
This  eliminates  gelatine  slides  which  are  inflammable  and  commonly  used. 
In  the  motion  picture  projection  room,  located  upon  the  fourth  floor 
at  the  center  of  the  north  end  of  the  auditorium,  are  specially  built  motion 
picture  projecting   machines,   the   largest   ever   installed     inanutactured 
by  the  Motiograph  Company,  Chicago,  and  installed  by  the  Oliver  Mov- 
ing Picture  Silpply  Co.,  of  Cleveland.    They  flash  a  picture  a  dis  ance  o 
330  feet  to  the  screen  upon  the  stage,  the  picture  being  2-Heet  by  30 
feet     This  firm  also  supplied  and  installed  all  flood  and  spot   ight  projec- 
tors   most  of  which  are  located  in  a  large  beam  projecting  below  arena 


Console  of  the  Wonderful 
$100,000  Pipe  Organ  and 
one  of  the  elaborate  stage 
settings. 


[16] 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Continued 

ceiliiifi'.  Ill  this  beam  is  a  fireproof  room  40  feet  long,  S  feel  wide  and  S 
feet  higli,  arranged  to  direct  light  onto  stage  and  orchestra  pit  and  organ 
console. 

The  Auditorium  itself  is  heated  I)y  the  air  used  for  ventilation.  This 
system  is  reversible  for  furnishing  upward  ventilation  in  summer.  The 
ventilating  system  in  the  Auditorium  can  also  be  arranged  for  re-circula- 
tion, thus  effecting  considerable  economy  at  times  when  the  building  is 
not  fully  occupied  nor  rec|uired  to  be  kept  at  normal  temjjerature.  The 
volume  of  air  delivered  to  and  from  the  hall  is  im])ressive.  In  the  Audit- 
orium alone  it  is  possible  to  deliver  1H,00(),()0()  cubic  feet  of  fresh  air  each 
hour.  Twenty-seven  million  cubic  feet  of  air  can  be  taken  out  each  hour 
by  mechanical  means. 

This  ventilating  system,  the  largest  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  jierhaps  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  is  housed  in  a  great  chamber  between 
the  ceiling  of  the  Auditorium  and  the  roof  some  30  feet  above.  In  this 
.space  are  air  washers,  lieaters,  blowers,  motors,  pumps,  automatic  dam- 
pers, steam  mains,  valves  and  all  other  auxiliaries  required  for  a  complete 
ventilating  and  heating  system.  Special  steel,  concrete  and  wood  floors, 
made  to  suit  the  curve  of  the  ceiling,  have  been  built  between  the  trusses 
to  support  this  equipment,  which  was  furnished  by  the  Chappel  Warren 
Co.,  The  J.  C.  Boehm  Co.,  and  the  Buffalo  Forge  Co. 

The  Exhibition  Hall  in  the  basement  is  also  ventilated  on  the  same  scale. 
It  is  possible  to  supply  and  withdraw  no  less  than  4,500,000  cubic  feet  of 
air  each  hour  from  this  portion  of  the  building.  All  air  is  taken  from 
top  of  building,  washed  with  water  and  cooled  in  the  summer  and  heated 
in  the  winter. 

In  order  to  convey  the  great  volume  of  air  to  the  proper  points  in  the 
great  structure,  air  ducts  varying  in  size  from  six  feet  square  to  10  feet 
square  are  required.  The  air  ducts  are  built  of  galvanized  sheet  iron. 
No  less  than  three  hundred  tons  of  sheets  and  many  tons  of  other  materials 
were  required  to  build  the  ducts,  this  metal  and  material  being  furnished 
and  placed  by  the  J.  C.  Boehm  Co.,  of  Cleveland. 

Air  shafts  and  underground  airways  forming  part  of  the  actual  struc- 
ture of  the  building,  are  built  of  brick  and  reinforced  concrete.  It  is 
possible  to  drive  an  automobile  through  many  of  these  hidden  air  passages. 

The  outer  corridors,  offices  and  entrances  are  heated  by  a  vacuum 
steam  heating  system  with  direct  radiators.  Practically  all  of  the  radiators 
are  under  automatic  temperature  regulation  to  prevent  overheating 
and  waste.  The  steam  heating  service  is  furnished  by  the  Cleveland  Illum- 
inating Co.  The  demand  for  steam  for  the  heating  system  and  for  heating 
the  air  for  ventilation  is  so  great,  however,  that  when  the  outside  temper- 
ature drops  to  20  degrees  and  lower,  the  steam  mains  in  the  street  are  not 
large  enough  to  provide  all  the  steam  that  is  required  in  the  building. 
A  private  steam  plant  of  1000  boiler  horse  power  capacity  has  therefore 
been  installed  by  the  City  under  contract  with  the  Chappel  and  \Yarren 
Co.,  to  furnish  all  steam  required  by  the  building  that  cannot  be  obtained 

1171 


The  Lounge. 


1181 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Continued 

from  the  street  mains.  Tliese  hollers  are  oil  huniers.  Tiie  entire  liealinj;'. 
pUnnhing  and  ventilating  installation  was  designed  by  Clark-MacMiillen 
and  Kiley  of  New  York. 

In  order  that  the  patrons  of  the  building  will  not  have  to  drink  l(>i)id 
water  to  queneh  their  thirst.  ;i  drinking  system  has  been  installed  by  the 
^V.  G.  Cornell  Co.,  to  furnish  pure  filtered  eold  water  free,  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year.  The  refrigeration  equipment  for  this  serviee  was  snpj)lied 
and  installed  by  The  Hibbard  Co.,  Cleveland. 

To  protect  life  and  the  valual)le  exhibits  which  will  be  shown  in  the 
exhibition  hall  in  the  basement,  an  automatic  (irinnell  .Sprinkler  System 
has  been  installed  in  that  jjortion  of  the  building.  Sprinklers  are  also 
installed  in  all  other  hazardous  places  in  the  l)uilding. 

In  addition  to  this  sprinkler  system,  the  building  is  eciuijijied  with 
two  Underwriters'  Fire  Pumps  with  automatic  control.  These  i)umps 
begin  to  operate  automatically  as  soon  as  a  hose  valve  is  opened  at  any 
part  of  the  building,  thus  furnishing  high  pressure  water  for  fire  protec- 
tion at  all  fire  hose  stations  in  the  building.  It  is  also  possible  for  the 
City  Fire  Department  to  connect  into  the  fire  mains  and  the  sprinkler 
system  of  the  building  from  two  sides,  thus  practically  eliminating  the 
fire  hazard.  S])ecial  ])rovision  has  been  made  for  cutting  ott"  the  stage 
from  the  Auditorium.  This  is  done  instantly  by  means  of  a  water  screen 
or  curtain  which  is  operated  by  a  quick  opening  automatic  valve  on  the 
stage,  furnishing  a  continuous  sheet  of  water  across  the  entire  proscenium 
opening,  as  well  as  the  automatic  lowering  of  the  asbestos  steel  curtain. 

A  central  vacuum  cleaning  system  has  been  provided  for  removing 
dust  and  dirt  from  all  parts  of  the  building.  The  importance  and  need 
of  such  equipment  will  be  appreciated  by  all  busy  housekeepers  and  others 
when  it  is  noted  that  the  actual  floors  of  the  main  building  have  an  area 
of  over  150,000  square  feet. 

The  building  as  a  whole  is  equipped  with  three  kinds  of  electric  current. 
Double  thrown  automatic  switches  at  the  main  switchboard  will  insure 
continuity  of  operation  throughout  the  building.  If  one  source  of  supply 
fails  the  other  is  imm^  diately  available.  The  switchboard  itself  is  a  marvel 
of  its  kind  and  was  built  by  the  Cleveland  Switch  Board  Co. 

One  floor  below  the  Auditorium  is  the  great  Exhibition  Hall,  which  is 
intended  primarily  for  expositions.  This  hall,  121  feet  (>  inches  by  '■2,S5 
feet,  contains  28,()G.S  square  feet  .^i  exhibit  space.  Adjoining  exhibition 
hall  at  the  south  enri  are  two  conference  rooms  fifty  by  twenty-three  feel 
which  may  also  be  used  for  displays. 

In  Exhibition  Hall  a  service  station  is  located  5  feet  above  the  floor 
upon  the  north  side  of  each  f)f  the  forty  columns  which  support  the  arena 
floor.  The  services  provided  at  these  stations  include  hot  and  cold  water, 
compressed  air,  gas,  high  and  low  pressure  steam,  vacuum,  vacuum 
cleaner,  electricity,  both  direct  and  alternating  current,  special  service 
pipes   for  acids  and  drainage  pipes  for  water,  telephones,  etc. 

fl91 


Typical  East  and  West  Cor- 
ridor.  Balcony  entrances. 


[201 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Audkonum— Continued 

Tl.P  Fxhibition  Hall  is  illuminated  by  .li.ec-l  liKhlinK-    1"  ll'<^  '^''^"^^^l 

ventilating  grilles.  -         e        . 

T1,P  flnnr  of  llie  FAliibition  Hnll  ami  basement  has  a  covering  of  grano- 
litS^^^as  bait!  a'ncUn  general  V^-^-^y'^''^^^  'i^Sll^rtb'Sto?  C  " 

Sve,r,!frT!Caf  :,rre'^iu;gT;^:t:;;tb 

pmmmm 

of  exhibitors.  .  . 

"  ttenlation  between  the  first,  seeond  and  'W''''  A™- ^-^^  ^^J^SS 
:111 '^^ullXr^^^r  ::t^rSniMt"anS-at^re'3^^^ 
rU'raS  S  sta^^rwa,s   two  eaeh  al™^  the  e^st_^and^west  eorrtdors^ 
conveniently  spaced,  aie  9  teet  wme  iium  t  remainins 

construction  with  terrazzo,  tile  or  marble  tacmg. 

Rv    means  of  additional  wide  ramps  the  largest  automobile  or  truck 
can  be  driven  t  to  Arena  floor  and  on  down  to  Exhibition  Room. 

riroulation  upon  the  basement  floor  is  afforded  by  spacious  corridors 

parallel  and  along  the  side  of  the  grand  staircase. 

For    the    convenience    of    conventions    and    organization    gatherings 
eigS\-o\t/trrooms,  completely  equipped  and  ^-^^^^^^^ 
nnon  the  second  floor.    In  addition  there  is  a  great  lounge  loom,  lux  r 
rsb'Stted     Mural  paintings,  which.form  part  ot  ^1-  de-ra  ion  m    In 
room'and  also  the  two  large  mui^lsm  ^^;^^\^Z^c^^ 
David  Lithgow,  Artist,  Albany,  ^'^•.  V  k     H    T  ^nnnld  Co     Cleveland, 
throughout  the  building  were  supplied  by  H.  Leopold  Co.,  i^leveiana. 


Interior.  Exhibition  Hall. 
In.set  .■iliow.t  arrangement  of 
Service  Station  in  pillars 
to  meet  all  needs  of  exhibi- 
tors. 


[ii] 


The  Story  of  the  Cleveland  Public  Auditorium — Concluded 

For  the  safety  and  convenience  of  the  pubHc  ample  emergency  features 
are  installed.  Electric  lamps  which  receive  current  and  are  controlled 
separately  from  the  ordinary  lighting  circuits  are  provided  for  all  main 
corridors,  passageways  and  exits. 

Approximately  124  electric  signs  of  the  Polarite  type  direct  the  ])ul)lic 
through  the  building  and  aid  in  identifying  Committee  Rooms,  Booths, 
Check  Rooms.  Offices,  Toilets  and  Rest  Rooms  and  other  stations. 
This  equipment  was  installed  by  the  Martien  Electric  Co.,  Cleveland. 

Four  booths  facing  the  corridors  at  the  north  end  of  the  building,  two 
on  each  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  main  floor,  may  be  used  for  cigars, 
news,  theater  tickets,  flower  or  refreshment  stands,  taxicabs,  etc. 

Twenty-eight  telephone  l)ooths  on  the  main  floor  at  the  north  end  of 
the  building  are  connected  with  two  telephone  exchanges.  Adjacent  to 
the  telejihone  exchanges  are  two  telegraph  offices.  The  wood  flooring, 
where  used  for  arena  and  stage,  was  laid  by  the  J.  J.  Cassidy  Co.,  Cleve- 
land. In  the  basement  is  located  a  barber  shop  with  shower  baths  and 
dressing  rooms  adjoining.  Throughout  the  building  are  ample  lavatory 
conveniences  with  sanitary  eciuipment  installed  by  the  Standard  Sani- 
tary ]Manufacturing  Co.,  and  the  West  Disinfecting  Co. 

Exit  facilities  are  so  arranged  that,  according  to  a  test  by  the  Fire 
Department,  the  entire  building  can  be  cleared  of  UJ.OOO  people  in  four 
and  one  half  minutes. 

All  interior  doors  and  frames  are  of  metal  with  baked  enamel  finish; 
these  were  manufactured  and  set  by  Riester  and  Thesmacher  Co..  Cleve- 
land. The  large  exterior  doors  to  all  entrances  and  exits  are  the  product 
of  Wm.  Moore  and  Co.,  Cleveland.  For  the  convenience  of  Conventions  and 
Exhibitions,  booths  of  various  sizes  and  forms  are  at  the  command  of 
the  Exhibitor:  these  are  collapsible  and  were  furnished  by  the  Forschner 
Company.  Hardware  fittings  throughout  the  building  were  furnished 
by  The  W.  Bingham  Co.,  Cleveland.  Steel  coat  racks  and  counters 
were  furnished  by  The  Van  Dorn  Iron  Works  Co.,  Cleveland.  ]\Iirrors 
throughout  the  building  by  the  Cleveland  Window  (ilass  and  Door  Co. 
The  paint  used  on  both  interior  and  exterior  was  furnished  by  the  Sherwin- 
Williams  Co.,  Cleveland  and  was  applied  with  brushes  furnished  by  the 
J.  S.  ^'erhunce  Co.  The  Smith  and  Oby  Co..  Cleveland,  handled  the  huge 
amount  of  plumbing  work  requu-ed  throughout  the  building. 

The  excavation  for  the  foundation  was  the  work  of  the  P'red  ]\.  Jones 
Co.,  Cleveland.  The  mammoth  roof  was  laid  by  The  Carey  Co.  The  iron 
marques,  banner  poles  and  lamps  which  ornament  the  exterior  came  from 
the  Moss  Iron  Works  Co.,  iron  grill  work  for  ventilating  and  heating 
purposes  was  furnished  by  the  Republic  Structural  Iron  \\'orks.  The 
outside  drainage  sewer  work  was  done  by  J.  J.  Donnelly,  Cleveland. 
Window  glass  throughout  the  building  was  furnished  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Plate  Glass  Co. 


[23] 


The  Group  Plan  of  the  Pro- 
posed Public  Buildings  of 
the  City  of  Cleveland. 


[24] 


An  Architectural  Achievement 

'By  J.  Harold  MacDowell,  Architect 


w 


J.  Harold  MacDowell 
Architect 


HEX  the  responsibility  of  designing  and  plan- 
ing a  building  of  any  magnitude  is  laid  upon 
one's  shoulders  (although  he  may  be  well  versed  in 
architecture  and  a  trained  architect  with  ample 
experience)  it  is  natural  that  his  dreams  and  fancies 
will  tend  to  carry  him  beyond  the  line  of  utility. 
Many  of  these  preliminary  thoughts  are  but  floating 
air  bubbles  in  the  sunlight,  beautiful  to  look  upon 
but  not  of  any  practical  use.  The  desire  of  every 
architect  is  to  create  architectural  monuments  that 
might  be  called  masterpieces  by  his  fellow  artisans. 

Through  these  preliminary  thoughts,  with  which  the  architect  has 
to  cope,  it  is  true  that  one  receives  the  thoughts  and  impressions  that 
aid  him  in  conceiving,  designing,  constructing  and  completing  the  thing 
that  he  set  out  to  do. 

All  this  is  more  particularly  true  with  a  project  such  as  the  Cleveland 
Auditorium,  which  is  filled  with  problems  from  the  most  intricate  archi- 
tectural and  mechanical  features  to  the  largest  and  most  complex  engi- 
neering and  constructional  details.  To  conceive,  design  and  construct 
an  Auditorium  supposed  to  meet  the  demands  of  Educational,  Civic 
and  Industrial  functions,  and  the  process  of  interweaving  masses  of 
materials  into  a  building  so  that  all  parts  will  respond  in  a  functionary 
manner  to  the  various  uses  demanded  of  it,  so  that  its  audiences  and 
visitors  are  given  to  approve  not  only  of  its  beauty  but  its  practicability, 
is  no  mean  task,  and  the  power  that  made  all  this  possible  was  the  untir- 
ing, perpetual  efforts  and  concentration  of  mind  and  energy  of  those 
detailed  to  the  task. 

In  looking  at  a  structure  such  as  the  Cleveland  Auditorium  all  that  one 
can  see  is  the  surface  of  the  interior  or  exterior  and  seldom  stops  to 
realize  what  is  behind  the  surface;  the  miles  and  miles  of  electric  wires 

[2«I 


EDWIN  BAXTER      FBBKKMELL  AAM^CASLIN        G.DMCOWINF 


Public  Auditorium,  Ways 
and  Means  and  Building 
Committee.  Other  members 
are  G.  A.  Gesell,  Lincoln  G. 
Dickey, 


[261 


An  Architectural  Achievement — Concluded 

and  pipe,  hundreds  of  tons  of  steel,  hundreds  of  carloads  of  all  sorts  of 
materials  all  bound  and  laid  together  for  their  specific  purpose,  products 
of  mines,  quarries,  forest  and  industries  from  almost  every  part  of  this 
country  and  many  foreign  countries;  it  is  only  then  that  one  begins  to 
realize  the  task  of  those  responsible  for  the  selecting  and  placing  of  those 
materials  which  serve  best  in  their  respective  places. 

While  the  Cleveland  Auditorium  may  be  considered  a  Monument  to 
the  Ideals  of  Cleveland,  it  may  also  be  properly  classed  as  its  Temj)le  of 
Art,  for  where  can  over  13,000  people  gather  under  one  roof,  seated  in 
upholstered  opera  chairs  with  one  clear  vision  of  the  stage  and  entire 
sm-roundings,  listen  with  perfect  comfort  to  the  largest  Grand  Opera 
production,  a  symphony  or  choral  recital  or  to  the  melodious  tones  of 
one  of  the  largest  organs  ever  built;  and  after  visiting  some  of  the  Indus- 
trial Exhibitions  that  have  been  held  within  its  walls,  who  could  say  that 
it  is  not  also  a  "Hall  of  Industry?" 

The  real  glory  comes  only  at  the  completion  of  a  building  and  this 
was  especially  true  with  this  Auditorium,  when  the  Owner — The  Public 
of  Cleveland — who  had  entrusted  the  work  into  the  care  and  judgment 
and  into  the  hands  of  those  who  had  made  it  a  reality — declared  their 
satisfaction  and  approval  of  the  thing  they  had  dreamed  for  so  many 
years,  and  it  was  then  that  the  old  adage  stood  distinctly  before  me 
"Whatever  is  worth  doing  is  worth  doing  well." 

Therefore,  may  the  Cleveland  Auditorium  stand  long  and  function 
well  in  the  purposes  and  uses  for  which  it  was  designed. 


(S)uaud  Lill 


[27[ 


b- 


in 


< 


L J^ 


WBOJlvnd 


tt 
St 


1«8] 


©David  l.ithc.uv 


The  Place  of  the  Auditorium  in  Civic  and 
Community  Life 

'By  Fred  Kohler,  iSMayor 

TT  took  the  city  of  Cleveland  a  little  longer  than  it 
'■  did  Aladdin.  That's  true.  Aladdin  had  merely 
to  rub  a  magic  lamp  and  a  palace  appeared.  But 
those  palaces  of  Aladdin  would  not  compare  for  an 
instant  with  the  practical  palace  the  citizens  of 
Cleveland  have  built  for  themselves. 

It  was  several  years  ago  that    Cleveland  got  its 
happy   idea  of  building,   in   the  very  midst    of  its 
Managerof  Auditorium        busiucss  scction,  a  bcautiful  and  practical   building 
for  public  gatherings,  concerts,  expositions,  and  con- 
ventions   of  every    sort,    to  belong  to  the  city    itself.       For    this  task, 
Cleveland  rubbed  its  magic  lamp  of  civic  spirit. 

The  building  itself  is  another  story,  but  its  usefulness  to  the  com- 
munity is  so  vital  that  it  must  be  considered  separately.  No  one  can  with 
certainty  forecast  what  the  Auditorium  will  mean  to  the  city.  Already 
acclaimed  by  visitors  from  every  part  of  the  country  as  unquestionably 
the  most  perfect  building  of  its  kind,  the  fulfillment  of  its  usefulness  must 
depend  upon  the  policy  of  its  operation. 

The  very  vastness  of  the  hall  makes  the  cost  of  operation  a  tremen- 
dous item. 

Two  general  policies  faced  the  government  of  our  city.  First:  To 
operate  the  building  without  thought  of  monetary  return  and  at  a  great 
deficit.  Second:  To  operate  it  as  though  it  were  a  privately  owned  build- 
ing and  put  the  yardstick  of  commercialism  on  every  event,  on  all  con- 
ventions, and  gatherings  of  every  kind. 

Neither  of  these  policies  commended  themselves  to  the  administration. 
The  first  policy  was  manifestly  impossible  as  the  city  had  no  funds  for 
such  a  purpose.   The  second  policy  would  defeat  the  ideals  of  its  builders, 

[29] 


10 
< 


cH 


•  iw5 


'i^'ti     L        "       "       " 

I         ■     s  ■ 


-/— ** 


o-  ; 


IS  "liil 


3 

c 


1301 


The  Place  of  the  Auditorium  in  Civic  and  Community  Life — Concluded 

the  citizens  of  Cleveland;  conventions  would  he  driven  away  and  all  that 
would  remain  would  be  a  place  of  amusement  erected  at  a  tremendous 
cost. 

It  was  necessary  to  find  another  solution.  Again  Cleveland's  magic 
lamp  of  civic  spirit  was  rubbed  and  there  appeared  a  group  of  public 
spirited  citizens  who  organized  under  the  leadership  of  a  Ways  and 
Means  Committee,  and  without  any  possibility  of  receiving  anything  in 
return,  put  an  immediate  solution  before  the  administration.  Taking 
the  Auditorium  entirely  out  of  politics,  this  committee  raised  a  fund  of 
$100,000  to  pay  any  deficit  of  operation  during  the  present  administra- 
tion. 

Hand  in  hand  with  the  best  business  talent  of  the  city  and  the  Manager, 
Lincoln  G.  Dickey,  the  new  policy  was  worked  out.  It  seems  certain  that 
the  Auditorium  in  the  period  of  its  usefulness  will  net  some  return  to 
Cleveland,  if  properly  operated,  aside  from  prestige  and  favorable  pub- 
licity. With  this  at  stake  building  managers  worked  out  the  best  program 
of  physical  management;  budgets  were  prepared  and  a  schedule  of  prices 
formulated. 

The  policy  adopted  is  a  happy  medium.  Conventions  and  events  of 
like  nature  that  bring  people  and  money  to  Cleveland  are  operated 
at  an  actual  loss.  Commercial  ventures  must  return  a  small  profit  to 
offset  these  losses,  for  the  schedule  says  plainly  that  Cleveland  citizens 
did  not  build  this  building  so  that  private  individuals  should  reap  a  golden 
harvest.  In  other  words,  if  money  is  to  be  made  the  operating  fund  must 
have  its  just  share. 

The  original  committee  which  conferred  with  the  administration  in  the 
formation  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee  consisted  of  F.  H.  Goff, 
Chas.  a.  Otis,  and  Alva  L.  Bradley. 


311 


^-^■S-LKT' 


Premier  Press  Senicc 
Cleveland 


&l:>^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 

Architecture  &  Urban  Planning  Library,  825-2747. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


NO  PHONE 

MAR  2  D  1987 
MAR  27  1987 

REC'D  AUPL, 


PSD  2339  9/77 


■tffllW" 


L  005  854  174  9 


UC  SOUTHr-r:  t^r 


D     000  572  382     0 


;^,^^.tr  m--^:^:$mmm 


